Medical Technology

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Medical Technology

The rapid rate of advance of medical technology today means that no static reference work such as this can hope to catalogue every form of equipment in use in a modern hospital. This section will therefore attempt to briefly detail only those examples which are in the most widespread use in Starfleet medical.

Hypospray

The Hypospray is a simple and effective method of delivering substances intravenously to a patient. The device consists of a spray head which can deliver drugs painlessly through the skin, and even through clothing. Attached to this is a swappable vial which contains the drugs to be delivered. The Hypospray has several major advantages over the syringe; since the skin is not broken by the spray, there is no contamination of the hyposprays tip during an injection. The device can therefore be used repeatedly without any need for sterilization of the tip. The hypospray is also completely painless, which has helped to make the widespread fear of injections a thing of the past.

Biobed

The hospital bed is, of course, one of the most important items to be found in any medical facility, as it is here that the patient will spend most of their time. Early beds were simply that - a place where the patient could rest in comfort. As technology progressed the hospital bed began to become more flexible and it was only a matter of time before routine medical systems began to be incorporated as standard, leading to the early versions of the device which has come to be known as the Biobed.

Today, the Starfleet biobed is designed to provide the medical staff with a wide range of basic information on the patient. Inbuilt sensor systems allow the biobed to constantly monitor factors such as heart rate, respiration, temperature, etc. These are displayed on a permanent basis, usually on a panel located at the head of the biobed, so as to present the information in the most clearly and easily accessible manner possible. As a backup to the visual presentation, biobeds can be set to give audio information, including normal functions such as heartbeat or automatic alarms should any body function fall outside a pre-set range.

The use of biobeds essentially means that every hospital bed today is equivalent to - or in fact, superior to - the "intensive care" beds of centuries ago. However, it is simply not resource efficient to include every type of medical device on every biobed. While the goal posts have shifted, then, even the most modern medical facilities still maintain a relatively few "high technology" beds supplemented by a much larger number of standard biobeds.

Laser Scalpel

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Laser Scalpel

The laser scalpel is one of the simplest instruments used in the modern medical facility. This device uses a laser beam rather than a physical knife in order to cut the patient; this allows a greater degree of control over the incision, and by eliminating physical contact between instrument and patient reduces the risk of transmitting infections.

Cortical Stumulator

The Cortical Stimulator is a small device which is used to elevate the activity in the cortex of a patient. The stimulator is typically a small device which is attached to the cranium; it is used on patients who have reduced or damaged brain wave patterns.

Physiostumulator

The physiostimulator is a system designed to elevate metabolic functions in an impaired individual. The unit is typically a small handheld device. In 2267 Doctor mcCoy used a physiostimulator to bring Captain Kirk out of a deep coma which had been used to fool the Romulans into believing that he was dead.4

Autosuture

Handheld unit used to heal reasonably mild wounds to the skin. Autosutures can be used to close incisions, heal knife wounds, etc. In 2369 an autosuture was used to heal a stab wound received by Captain Jean Luc Picard.5

Gentronic Replicator

An advanced medical system designed to scan damaged organs on the quantum level and replicate living replacements which can then be transplanted. The system was created by Doctor Toby Russell, an expert in spinal injuries. The Federation refused Dr. Russell permission to test the device on a patient on three separate occasions, on the grounds that the risks were unacceptable. In 2368 she used the device on Lieutenant Worf, who had been paralysed after an accident on board the Enterprise-D. The Gentronic replicator succeeded in creating a new spine, but Worf died on the operating table. Fortunately, his Klingon physiology allowed him to be revived and make a full recovery.7

Dermal Regenerator

The dermal regenerator is used to repair damage to the skin of the patient, including bruising and lacerations. The device is handheld; the doctor holds it over the damaged area and moves it slowly back and forth. The treatment typically lasts only a matter of a few seconds.8

Defibrillator

The defibrillator is a device used to restore sinus rhythm in a patients heart after it has gone into cardiac arrhythmia. Modern defibrillators are portable handheld devices which are placed into contact with the skin directly over the heart; when triggered a computer controlled shock is delivered to the heart.9

Subdermal Scalpel

The subdermal scalpel is used for making incisions beneath the skin without breaking the skin itself. It therefore allows purely internal surgery to be performed, reducing the risk of infection and the need for instruments such as dermal regenerators.10

Tissue Scanner

This tissue scanner is used to measure the rate of cellular decay. It can run scans at the molecular level, and is capable of picking up tetryon particles. The sensitivity can be boosted with an enhanced resolution mode, and can adjust the scan field as needed. The unit interfaces with remote computer systems which can be used to control all functions.11

Neutron Microscope

A device used by the Deonbulans in the mid 22nd century which allows high magnification, high resolution imaging. The NX-01 received a neutron microscope from the Denobulans in 2152.14

The microscope uses a reflectometer to collimate a stream of neutrons. In setting the device up, a condenser lens is screwed onto the aperture ring and the emitter frequency is then remodulated to initiate the neutron stream. Then the quantum filters must be aligned. Frequency parameters must be entered in advance to get an image. The aperture must also be stabilised to ensure a sharp image.14

Using the microscope a strand of protein molecules can be enlarged and enhanced to the point where a single nucleotide can be clearly seen, and even individual carbon atoms.14

Sensor Pads

Psychotronic Stability Test

A standard Starfleet medical test which Starfleet officers are required to take before they graduate the Academy. The subject is shown a series of images whilst a pair of devices on their forehead measure their responses. In 2365 Counselor Troi administered a psychotronic stability test to Lieutenant Commander Data after he began to display anomalous behaviour. The test identified two distinct personalities within his brain, his own and the implanted personality of Ira Graves.19

Arterial Repair Device

Used for repairing arterial tears and thus preventing excess pressure within the brain. Doctor McCoy considered this to be a vastly more humane method than the 20th century method of drilling a hole in the skull to evacuate the excess blood. He used one of the devices to heal Checkov after he sustained arterial damage in a fall aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise in1986.20